Japan to launch Kyushu tourism discount program to aid earthquake recovery

The Japan Tourism Agency will launch the ‘Kyushu Fukko Ouen War’ (Kyushu Recovery Support Discount) starting in October to revitalize tourism in the Kyushu region following the impact of the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake. The program offers a 50% discount on travel and accommodation products for stays of one night or more. In Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures, where cancellation rates have been particularly high, the discount rate will increase to 60%.

Discount limits per person vary based on the package: up to 20,000 yen for single accommodation or one-night transport-inclusive trips, 30,000 yen for two or more nights with transport, and 35,000 yen for multi-prefecture tours. The agency will provide subsidies to prefectures, which will then distribute them to travel agencies and accommodation providers.

In Oita Prefecture, the local assembly has already approved a supplementary budget of 1.08 billion yen to support the initiative. Oita officials estimate the program will generate at least 54,000 overnight stays and produce an economic ripple effect of approximately 2.77 billion yen.